New Delhi: Manchester 13, London 3.
On a weekend when Samir Nasri finally made his debut for Manchester City, the gulf between the club he left and the one he chose could not have been highlighted more starkly.
Manchester City may be trying to buy their way to the top, but if a team can afford to leave Carlos Tevez on the bench and still rack up five goals with ease against a side that played in the Champions League last season, the signs are ominous for their rivals.
City have addressed some of the problems they faced last season, adding the creativity to go with manager Roberto Mancini's surprisingly new attacking mindset, while increasing the depth of an already-formidable squad. David Silva continues to impress, Edin Dzeko is starting to show the form that persuaded City to pay 27 million Pounds for the Bosnian striker, while Sergio Aguero and Nasri seem to be showing none of the troubles usually faced by players settling into a new team. Against Tottenham on Sunday, Nasri provided the assists for two of Dzeko's goals, while Aguero also got his third goal in just his third league game.
More significant, though, was their impressive attacking display in the 5-1 victory - City's biggest-ever win at White Hart Lane - following their convincing wins in the first two games of the season. They have the wealth, they have the players, they have the manager who led Inter Milan to three league titles in a row - City are certainly going to mount a real title challenge this season and Alex Ferguson knows it.
But anything their 'noisy neighbours' can do, Manchester United can do better. As if the 8-2 demolition of Arsenal was not enough, Ferguson will derive even more pleasure from the fact that the astounding victory took the limelight away from a real statement of intent by City.
The Scot has time and again built winning teams at Old Trafford, combining astute buys in the transfer market with young talent coming through the ranks. Ashley Young, Tom Cleverely and Danny Welbeck represent the success of that policy, while one could be forgiven for not realizing that United were missing first-choice defenders Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic. Javier Hernandez started on the bench, while last season's topscorer Dimitar Berbatov stayed on it - United are only going to get stronger.
In contrast, Arsene Wenger left Manchester facing the biggest crisis of his 15-year career at Arsenal. "I'm comfortable with where we are," said the Frenchman before the start of the game. After seeing his side mercilessly torn apart by the team they are supposed to challenge, one suspects even the normally-stubborn Wenger will be forced to accept the increasing gulf between the erstwhile rivals.
Even injuries and suspensions cannot justify the bare bones to which the Arsenal squad has been reduced. None of the back four that started against United deserves a place in an Arsenal side, while Wenger has just three days left to find acceptable replacements for Cesc Fabregas and Nasri. The rethinking and rebuilding will have to take place soon though, or else Arsenal could be in real danger of finishing out of the top four this season.
It's been a tough start to the season for their local rivals Spurs, with resounding defeats to the Manchester clubs in their first two games. Harry Redknapp has his own injury problems to deal with, while Chelsea's prolonged and public pursuit of key man Luka Modric has not helped matters. Even with Emmanuel Adebayor and the possible additions of Scott Parker or Lassana Diarra though, Spurs face a tough battle to return to the Champions League next season.
The only London side that can reasonably think of breaking the Manchester charge is Chelsea. However, the Blues have been unimpressive in their first three games against relatively weaker opponents, with much of the problems of last season still in evidence. At least new signing Juan Mata got a goal on debut though, which already equals the tally of a certain other Spaniard in the squad after 11 league games. He might also add some much-needed inventiveness to an ageing squad that is in urgent need of a creative injection - It might be too much to expect Andre Villas-Boas to win the title in his first year.
It's early days yet, but if the first three games are anything to go by, the Premier League title will stay in Manchester this season.
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